Fruit, nut, and olive harvesting machine



July 8, 1952 w. G. LEIGHTON 2,602,279

FRUIT, NUT, AND OLIVE HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I02 7 /OZ.

In ventor William 6. Leighton July 8, 1952 w. s. LEIGH'I'ON FRUIT, NUT, AND OLIVE HARVESTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1949 Inventor y 8, 1952 w. G. LEIGHTON FRUIT, NUT, AND OLIVE HARVESTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 28, 1949 Inventor William 6. Leighton ure 1;

Patented July 8, 1952 rrurr, NU

i'Williaim G.- Deiglitom'Healdsburg, o-a1if.,"assignor" 'Healdsburg, Calif.

' Application Nov mber 28, 1949, Serial 510,129,773 f This invention relates to improvements'in fruit and nut collectors of the type which is adapted to be disposed under a tree for collection purposes. I

An object of this invention isto provide a frame sloped downwardly toward a center, a

cover being provided on said frame so that the lengthen and widen the frame by means of extensions which are adjustably carried by the peripheral edges of said frame.

Another object of this invention is to construct the frame of such arrangement whereby the frame sections may be easily'brought together, maintained in place and then removed orseparated from each other for ready and 'easy transportation.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent in following the' illustrate'd form of the invention. 1 v

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one form of the invention showing its adaptation to the environment of a single tree;

Figure 2 is an end view of the device in Fig- Figure 3 is a plan view of the device in Figur 2, portions of the cover being removed to illustrate the detail of one of the frame sections;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure and showing a part of, the device; j Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the entire device viewed as would be taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows; 1

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 6 -6 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the means of operating the extensions; Figure 8 is a sectional view in enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3, and showing the structure employed in releasably attaching three sections together; and

4Qlaims. (01. 56-829) Figure 9 is a perspective view in enlarged scale a I a 2 I v.Referencefis now, made to the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a frame generally indicated at In consisting of a pair of sections' 12 and I4. Each section is substantially identical in structure and shape. There is a pair of straight parallel side pieces l6 and I8, respec-j tively, with a perpendicular side 20 connecting them together with an arcuate opposite side 22. A rectangular frame 24 in a plane lowerthan the 'plane of the sides is connected with the sides by means of the connecting members or braces 26- which are tubing or similar material. Similar extension parts 28 and so are connected by means of hinges 32 to the respective sides 16 and 18. The outside or peripheral end members 21 and 29 of the extensions 23 and 30 together with the side 22 form a semi-circle. Identicalstructure is provide'd'for the'section I4 of the frame; Although the plan form of the illustrated embodi-' ment of the device is circular,'it may be made any form in accordance with manufacturing ex d enc v -J Mounted in the frame 24 is a'hoppe generally indicated at 36, which hasopenin s 38 and 40 at the bottom thereof in order to receive conventional lug boxes. The upper bafiieplate 42 which formsa' part of the hopper 36, directs the prod-v iictsof the harvestinto the lower part'of the hopper 36 and into the regular field lug boxes which are removably disposed on the rack 43193; the bottom of the hopper. Hence, the collected harvest is already in the. boxes. If one tree does not yield enough to fill the harvest boxes, the device is rolled on its wheelsto the next trees to "complete the filling of the boxes.

Disposed at the top of the baffle plate 42 is a collar consisting of a semi-circular flange 44 and alower plate which is fixed removably to the baflle plate 42. The trunk of the tree is adapted to be encircled by the collar 44, an iden+ tical hopper construction and collar construction being supplied in connection with the frame l4.-

, Hangers 48 and 50 support the wheels 52 and 54. and said hangers are composed of frame construction. There are two wheels for each section so that the sections are easily moved from one location to the other. A stand 58 is operatively connected with the section [2 and forms a part thereof. A similar stand is provided for the section 14 and each stand has a handle 60 projecting therefrom for manual manipulation.

A cover 62 of canvas or any other suitable material is provided on the section [2 and a cover 66 is fixed to the extension part 28 and a similar cover is fixed to the extension part 30.

fixed thereto as by welding or the like.

tension being made of two extension parts as the part 28 and its counterpart associated with the frame 16, the means seen best in Figure supplied. A bed plate 12 is disposed on cross members H and 16 (Figure i) which are, in-turn,

welded or otherwise rigidly, fixed-to apart of the stand 58 adjacentthe hangers for the wheels.

This bed plate has two racks J8 and 80., re-v sion part 30 whereby, upon operation of the shafted-the extension part is pivotally raised and-lowered. The shaft 95 has a pinion 98.1ixed thereto and enmeshed with the teeth of the rack 80. vThe-shaft 96 is mounted similar to the shaft-82.

.-.Each shaft-82 and 965, respectively, is provided.

with aratchet 1.0!] which is-fixedthereto and a pawl I02 engageable with the teeth ofthe ratchet. One :pawl is carried by the plate 85, while the other pawlv is carried by theplate pertinent to theshaft-QB.

In operation, the frames are movedtogether around the tree trunk until the collar having the flange; 44. isin embracing relationship with the treetrunk. Then, if it is necessary/the ex-. tensions are operated to their extended. position in order-to collect the products of the. harvest. When. the products are being collected, .theyare disposed on thecovers which are inclinedto: ward a. center. At this center, the'hoppersl or singlehopper is located in order that the products may befcoliected and guideddirectly in the field boxes and then the boxes removed tobe stacked, 'Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 1. A fruit and nut collecting device comprising a frame which includes a pair of sections,

one section having a channel and the other section-having a flange releasably disposedfinsaid A shaft 82, with a pinion84p ohannel'thereby releasably connecting'the secf tions, and a cover disposed on saidsections, extensions'hingedly secured to said sections, means fb'nraising and lowering said extensions, said means includinga rack bar, a guide carried by 4 said frame with said rack bar disposed therein, means connected with said rack bar for displacing said bar, and a link connecting said rack bar with one of said extensions.

2. A fruit and nut collecting device comprising a frame which includes a pair of sections, onesection. having a channel and the other section having a flange releasably disposed; in said channel thereby releasably connecting the sec- "tions, a cover disposed on said sections, extensions hingedlysecured to said sections, means .connected'to-said sections and said extensions {for raising and lowering said extensions and for retaining said extensions in selected hinged positions-saidframe having an inclined upper surface'supporting said cover at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane, a hopper with a laterally arranged discharge opening connected with said frame and disposed at the lower part of said frame upper surface, and said hopper having, a bottom located below said opening and constituting aseat for a field'box. 1

3. A fruit and nut collecting device comprising a frame which includes a pair of sections, one sectionhaving a downwardly opening channel and the other section having an upwardly extending flange releasably disposed in said channel thereby releasably connecting the, sec-. tions, a cover disposed on said sections, extensions, hinges hingedly, secured to said sections and said extensions connectingsaid extensions to said sections, and means connected to said sections and said extensionsfor raising and lowering said extensions and for retaining said-extensions inselected hinged positions, said frame having an inclined upper-surface supporting said cover atan angle with respect to a horizontal plane, a hopper with azlaterally arranged discharge openingandconnected withsaid frame and disposedat the lower part of said frame up per surface, wheels with hangers secured to 1 said frame supporting saidwheels, and stands secured totsaidsections to support saidsections beneath a ree. I

- 4. The combination ofclaim 3 and said laterally arranged opening constituting a seat for a field box to be disposed in said hopper tocollect the harvestv x WILLIAMwG. LEIGH'JTON.

' nEFEnnNoEs orrnn' The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

